How to Build a Homemade Honey Extractor

The basket works on the same principle as the spinning tub of a washing machine: It turns with enough speed to force the honey out of the comb and fling it against the side of the garbage can, where it runs down the wall and out the bottom drain.

As animal husbandry costs go, the prices of bees and beekeeping supplies are quite a bargain, but setting up an apiary still runs into money if you have many colonies. My husband, Dwayne, and I got into a home honey operation a couple of years ago (it sort of sneaked up on us), and from the start we've tried to hold down on cash outlay by making some of our equipment.

We've found, for example, that we can save substantially by building our own bee housing. We bought our first hive and super and Dwayne made the rest, using the commercial products for patterns so that the parts of all units are interchangeable. Since we have quite a bit of scrap lumber handy, the only investment was the time spent in construction. (Click here for a diagram of a bee hive.)

We've also learned to economize by finding substitutes for some conventional equipment. If you camp and have mosquito nets, for instance, they'll work fine as bee veils. If you carpenter and own a small prybar, it will do the job of a hive tool.

How to Build a Homemade Honey Extractor

One recommended item — the honey extractor, which removes honey from the comb — looked like a pretty demanding do-it-yourself project and had no obvious counterparts lying around the house. So, at first, we thought we'd just do without it. Our initial attempt at harvesting honey, however, showed us our mistake. There just isn't any other practical way to separate a large amount of honey from the wax in which it's stored. The thick fluid can be squeezed out of the cells, but that takes forever and destroys the structure of the comb. An extractor preserves those neat little hexagons, which saves work for the bees (and, in the long run, time and money for their keeper).

It's particularly essential that you have an extractor if you intend to sell honey. Anyone who has a surplus to market has too much to separate by hand ... and in our experience there's a limited market for cut comb honey. Most people prefer the product free of wax.

Well, we gave in, checked the prices of extractors in the current catalog from Dadant & Sons ... and found the rates higher than we cared to pay: $75.00 to $85.00 for a hand-operated machine and $165 and up for electric models. (Such equipment comes in various sizes and the prices vary accordingly. In A.I. Root's December 1974 catalog, a two-frame hand powered extractor is quoted at $86.90, an electric version of the same item at $135.80, and a three-frame electric machine at $163.95. — MOTHER.) After a bit of thought, Dwayne decided he could build a similar device himself at much less cost. When he got through, he'd invested about $30.00 and came up with an electrically operated honey separator that works like a charm ... put together from materials that were on hand or easily obtainable from a local hardware store.

Dwayne started the project by choosing a 20-gallon garbage can to serve as a drum, and cutting a hole in the bottom near the outer edge. The opening is about an inch in diameter — to let the thick honey run out freely — and is fitted with a valve to cut off the flow.

The rectangular inner basket, which holds the frames of the honey extractor, is 8-1/4 inches x 11-1/4 inches x 16 inches — the largest size that will fit in the garbage can with spinning room left over. Its maximum load is four small frames (5-3/8 inches x 17-5/8 inches), or four medium (6-1/4 inches X 17-5/8 inches), or two deep (9-1/8 inches x 17-5/8 inches) plus any other two smaller frames.

The basket's framework is made of welded angle iron with a center rod on which the container spins. The bottom is perforated sheet metal from the back of an old TV set. This panel is sturdy enough to support the weight of four frames full of honey, and the openings are large enough to allow the honey to run into the can. The container's sides are of welded wire mesh which we had on hand. Any similar material could be used just as well.

The basket works on the same principle as the spinning tub of a washing machine: It turns with enough speed to force the honey out of the comb and fling it against the side of the garbage can, where it runs down the wall and out the bottom drain. We've found that the necessary rate of spin is about 175 to 200 rpm, depending on the thickness of the liquid.

Across the top of the can, Dwayne built a base for the motor from hardwood crating boards we happened to have around. (Almost any TV or appliance dealer has sturdy packing materials to throw away.) The motor itself — a 1/4-hp, 1,750-rpm, 110-volt electric type — was also scrounged up "for free." Such units are very common and can often be found at auctions for a couple of dollars.

The biggest expense in the construction of our honey extractor was the 10-to-1 gear reduction, a worm drive gear train purchased for $7.95. A pulley-and-belt arrangement is used to drive the gears, and the pulley size can be changed if necessary to vary the speed of rotation. (The parts can be assembled in almost any workable combination. It's best, however, to keep the device as simple as possible.)

Dwayne's final step was to build a heavy-duty stand from more crating boards. The whole works is fastened firmly to this base so the honey extractor won't scoot across the room and run us down when it starts spinning.

We're still novices at this beekeeping business ... but we've already discovered this much: With some handyman ability and a little extra work, it's possible to run such an operation without having to invest a lot of money. If you're seriously considering a start with bees but have no experience and little cash, don't let that deter you. We began the same way, and we know it can be done.

To "a beekeeper", with all due respect. Food grade plastic is the same chemical as garbage can. And an oil barrel if steam cleaned and rust free would be just as clean and safe. If you do keep bees, then I have a revelation for you. Honey comes from bee's guts, as do their waste materials. Like my Aunt once pointed out to my cousin, do you know where chicken eggs come from? And don't drink any wine either.. Amazing!

a bee keeper

4/18/2010 9:57:35 PM

you ever hear of food grade containers ?????
trash can ,, Oil barrel ????????? I would not want any
honey from you !!!!!!! this is why food reg get so hard

Pamela Free

6/3/2009 12:48:25 PM

That's great! I built a honey extractor back in the 70's when I kept bees. It was in an old oil drum and I used aluminum channel to hold 4 frames vertically around the axis. Then I closed the lid, attached my variable speed drill to the axis and away it went. I opened the spigot at the bottom and had honey, quick and easy. I forgot how much it cost me but it really wasn't much. I do remember it was less than the hot knife I needed to open the comb.
I was just thinking the other day that I had had my drill for a long time and now I realize it was the same drill I used for this. That sure earned it's keep!
Pam

Lighten the Strain on the Earth and Your Budget

MOTHER EARTH NEWS is the guide to living — as one reader stated — “with little money and abundant happiness.” Every issue is an invaluable guide to leading a more sustainable life, covering ideas from fighting rising energy costs and protecting the environment to avoiding unnecessary spending on processed food. You’ll find tips for slashing heating bills; growing fresh, natural produce at home; and more. MOTHER EARTH NEWS helps you cut costs without sacrificing modern luxuries.

At MOTHER EARTH NEWS, we are dedicated to conserving our planet’s natural resources while helping you conserve your financial resources. That’s why we want you to save money and trees by subscribing through our earth-friendly automatic renewal savings plan. By paying with a credit card, you save an additional $5 and get 6 issues of MOTHER EARTH NEWS for only $12.00 (USA only).